GIVE News

We often get so caught up in the ‘silly season’ that we forget it’s the perfect –and most important– time to give back. IntegraPay has made it even easier to donate, by developing in-video payment (IVPS) technology, in partnership with child protection charity, Bravehearts.

Bravehearts is an Australian charity that promotes the education of personal safety in the fight against child sexual assault. In the hopes of boosting fundraising efforts over the Christmas period, Bravehearts has launched a new ad-campaign with IVPS technology integrated.

Bravehearts Marketing Manager, Zoe Hermans is thrilled with this venture. “The technology is ground-breaking for charities and donors alike because users can donate whilst they watch the video, and don’t have to be redirected to a third-party webpage or pop-up to complete their donation.”

The advertisement has been posted online to enhance their social media fundraising efforts. The video features a purple box in the left hand corner that says ‘DONATE NOW’. Anyone watching the ad can simply click this and a pop-up appears asking for all the necessary details for making a donation.

As a journalism graduate, Ash has discovered a flair and talent for writing and reporting on issues that matter. Through travel, she realised the desperate need to give back and help those around her. When Ash is not keeping up to date on the latest in news and current affairs, she is usually distracted by her guilty pleasure- celebrity gossip.

Tens-of-thousands of Australians are currently filled with dread, contemplating the social minefield known as the Xmas Holidays. They are among the 1-in-5 Australians who are part of a stepfamily. For many of them, the interaction that comes with this season is an emotional battle with their past, their identity and their future.

Peak organisation STEPFAMILIES AUSTRALIA www.stepfamily.org.au has released a ‘Stepfamily Survival Guide for the Holidays’, as well as offering useful new apps to help people communicate on their own terms.

“More than a million of us are in stepfamilies, and they can be a truly wonderful experience,” notes Stepfamilies Australia CEO Karen Field.

“But blended doesn’t always mean mended, and emotions can be particularly raw at this time of year – especially when dealing with new and old parents and partners and siblings, not to mention different cultures, religions and traditions.”

Earlier this month, at the grand age of 90, Peter Tripovich has just completed a walk all the way around Australia.
The jubilant Echuca man strode down Melbourne’s Bourke St mall, arms held high in victory at the end of a decade-long quest.
The RAAF veteran and farmer began the walk when he was 79, wanting to raise money for children in poorer countries who were “worse off than ourselves”.
He started on the approximately 20,000 km walk around Australia in Melbourne, choosing to work with the charity, International Children’s Care Australia and aiming to raise $200,000. His anti-clockwise circuit continued for 15,000km when he reached Pemberton, WA. At that time, he needed to return home to tend his wife who had terminal cancer. He spent the next four years caring for her, during which time he flew to the mountainous Thai/Burmese border region to help build shelters for children and villagers. An experience that’s had a lasting effect on him.
Last Australia Day, at the age of 89, he returned to Pemberton for the final 3500 km jaunt to Melbourne. Each day he woke at 3 am and walked between 30-40 km. He was followed all the way by his support staff of three.

Peter is a true “aussie battler that overcame”.
If you would like to help Peter reach his $200,000 goal – visit ICC Australia

Saké Jr at Level 5 Westfield Sydney shopping centre and Saké Jr at 555 Bourke Street Melbourne will run the campaign from Monday, 3rd October to Monday 31st October to raise awareness of and funds for life-changing breast cancer research.

The team at late-night Tex-Mex diner El Camino Cantina in The Rocks, Sydney is supporting the Leukaemia Foundation’s annual hospitality industry fundraising competition, U.G.L.Y (Understanding Generous Likeable You) Bartender of the Year 2016.

The bar team’s legendary Margaritas will be joined by a speciality blue ‘U.G.L.Y Margarita’ from today untilMonday 14th November. El Camino Cantina will donate $1 for every 15oz U.G.L.Y Margarita purchased, and $2 for every 24oz U.G.L.Y Margarita.

Every $80 raised will help the Leukaemia Foundation provide one night’s free accommodation for someone with blood cancer and their carer, providing a home-away-from-home for regional families that need to relocate to be close to their treatment centre.

TV & RADIO personality joins forces with innovative stationery brand Yoobi and The Smith Family to provide free school supply packs to 1,110 kids

AUGUST 23rd, 2016:

Yoobi, the innovative stationery supplies brand that promises that if “You Buy, Yoobi Gives,” will be joined by Yoobi ambassador Osher Günsberg on Tuesday 30th August, to deliver a truckload of free school supplies to more than 1,000 Mt Druitt Primary School children. The “give” comes thanks to Yoobi’s innovative “one for one” business model, where for every Yoobi item purchased in Australia through Officeworks stores, a Yoobi school item is donated to a child or classroom in need, in partnership with The Smith Family children’s education charity.

Yoobi’s vibrant stationery range was launched in Australia in December 2015, with a mission to provide school supplies to the one in 10 Aussie kids who grow up in financially disadvantaged families and may lack access to the required stationery items to get them through the school year. In just eight months, the colourful, socially responsible brand has already impacted the lives of nearly 16,000 school children.

“What I love about Yoobi is that giving is at the centre of the business, you know that by choosing to buy a yoobi product, you know that an Australian child in need will be receiving essential school suppies also. That’s why I am so thrilled to be helping Yoobi support Willmot Public School in providing fundamental school items for its students,” said Günsberg.

Imagine the possibilities of the federal government funding volunteer management instead of an “illegal” internship program

This month’s Federal Budget and its proposal to introduce $4 per hour internships for unemployed under-25s has already been broadly debated and criticised. The PaTH (Prepare, Train, Hire) program proposes to provide intensive workplace training for young people who have been on Newstart for six months or more, followed by the option of undertaking an internship at up to twenty-five hours per week, for up to twelve weeks. In return, the young person receives an additional $100 per week on top of their Newstart allowance. The employer receives a free employee (paid for by the taxpayer) for up to 300 hours, a $1000 bonus upon completion of the program, and is under no obligation to employ the young person once the internship is over.

Employers in this program can come from any industry. Cafes and supermarkets were promoted as positive examples by the Government in the Budget Overview, whilst Senate Estimates confirmed that even the beleaguered 7-Eleven chain could employ interns free of charge under the PaTH program. It’s quite clear that this is a program aimed at the business market; it’s less clear what the skills benefit transfer is for participants.

Research from Interns Australia has found that 81% of internships do not lead to a job. The Australian Council of Trade Unions, based on legal advice they have received from Maurice Blackburn, has said that the program may even be illegal under the Fair Work Act.

Yet imagine the possibilities, if this program centred not on taxpayers paying for-profit business to engage free labour, but on training and mentoring young people in the not-for-profit sector through a properly funded volunteer management program.

What happens when a child is frightened and alone in one of Australia’s busiest malls?

It’s Saturday in Australia’s busiest pedestrian mall. Two children, Samuel and Ava, take turns standing in the middle of the mall, appearing to be alone and frightened.

Will they be approached and offered assistance or will shoppers simply walk by?

At first, many people walk by, distracted or unwilling to help, but it’s only minutes before the first person approaches.

“Hey sweetie, when’s the last time you saw your mummy and daddy?”

The concerned young lady proceeds to ask Ava if she wants to come to the information desk or wait to see if her parents appear.

Two women then spot Samuel, “Hey buddy, where’s your mum?” Are you alright, mate?” they ask.

A number of interactions were captured over the course of the day, but the experiment, run by children’s services provider, Key Assets, revealed that after eight hours of filming, only a staggering 21 people stopped to approach the children.

Key Assets’ Executive Director, Rob Ryan said he was surprised by the amount of people who walked past.

“When you are in Australia’s busiest pedestrian mall with thousands of visitors, it is sad to see that in eight hours, only 21 people offered to help the children. It really is the perfect metaphor for what is happening to children in need.

“There are more than 43,000 children in Australia that need care and protection. This number has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years, but the number of foster carers is in decline.

“We hope that this social experiment will help bring attention to the desperate need for more foster carers in Australia and encourage those who have never thought about it, to reach out to us,” Mr. Ryan said.

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like more information, visit CANIFOSTER.COM.AU or call Key Assets on 1800 WE CARE.

Today marks the official opening of The Happy Garden at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Located on a sunny, open‐air balcony on level one at the Hospital, The Happy Garden provides sick kids the chance to heal quickly in a cheerful, healthy, sunlit environment. Continue reading

The Hello Nature Project wants to help remind you that you don’t have to travel outside of the city to find nature, it’s all around us, right here.

It’s the trees on your way to work, it’s looking up when you go outside at lunchtime, it’s your breakfast on your front step on the weekend and it’s our parks and gardens in the middle of the city.

We’re asking people to sign up to receive daily emails throughout November with a simple activity to help them connect to nature. The activities will include things like cloud gazing, freeing your feet and standing on the grass, listening out for birds and insects and taking your lunch outside.

It’s these daily connections to nature that can change a person – boosting your health, happiness and creativity and helping you become more connected to your community.

Australian Red Cross welcomes the Government’s decision to spend $44 million on humanitarian aid and to open up an extra 12,000 places for people fleeing conflict and persecution in Syria and Iraq.

This is a significant response to a longstanding humanitarian crisis that has quite rightly gripped the world’s attention in recent days, and both components are vital, says Australian Red Cross Director of Services and International Operations Michael Raper.

‘There are more than 4 million Syrians displaced and in need of massive immediate support in surrounding Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. More will no doubt be needed shortly, but $44m now will help this very vulnerable group enormously. Taking an extra 12,000 refugees into Australia (on top of the current annual intake of around 13,000) will make a significant local contribution to addressing this global crisis and will no doubt be warmly welcomed throughout Australia as has always been the case in similar situations,’ says Mr Raper.

‘Red Cross is already exploring ways we can provide support and looking into what role we might be able to play. Red Cross has worked with vulnerable migrants in Australia for 100 years, and has provided support during similar situations, for example when Australia provided safe haven to Kosovar refugees in 1999.

‘Refugees and people seeking asylum, in Australia and around the world, need our help,’ Mr Raper says. ‘They are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities today; very often they are facing severe hardship and very limited choices.

‘Red Cross works with people based on need regardless of how they arrived in Australia or their visa status. This includes supporting people living in the community who have arrived in Australia seeking protection, checking on the welfare of people in immigration detention and reconnecting loved ones separated by migration, war and disaster’.

Our local Red Cross teams were evacuating people to safety before the cyclone hit. Now, they are working non-stop to provide first aid to the injured, hand out tarpaulins for shelter and hygiene kits to prevent disease, and offer comfort to terrified and heartbroken parents and children.

Our mission is to become the Award of reference that reaches all young people from diverse backgrounds and equips them as individuals to succeed in life.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DEIA) started in 1956 and has become the world’s leading youth achievement award and is currently present in more than 140 countries, having reached more than 8 million young people.

Over the past 50 years, we reached more than 100,000 young Victorians.

Over the next 50 years, we want to expand our reach to 1,000,000 young Victorians.

The holistic framework of the DEIA touches on all spheres of life and creates opportunities for young people to experience success beyond the classroom. Consequently not only does the individual but society as a whole benefits from empowered young leaders, energetic and involved community members and we see a release of massive potential.

We know that the 3 key challenges young people face today in Australia are:

1. Employability

2. Disengagement from education and society

3. Untapped potential

Due to these challenges, we believe that there has never been a more critical time to engage and empower our young people to create a better future.

In Victoria, we work with over 50,000 young people and 350 educational institutions and community organisations. Each organisation collaborates with Government, community, business and other educational bodies to support their young people through the Awards. We support this process, providing training and resources to create long-term, sustainable community partnerships.

We leave our young awardees feeling confident about their ability to follow their passion, future career opportunities and their ability to make a difference along the way.

Aries

The center of attention is your favorite place. You're so comfortable with everybody's eyes on you that you don't need to rehearse. Extensive training meets spontaneous guesswork. When your thoughts are too big for your brain, their only way out is through words and actions. Your performance is awesome to behold and it affects the life of at least one other person profoundly. Maybe you sweep many others off their feet, since you're not stingy once you get started. Actual change may be temporary, but the memory of it lingers forever. They'll be talking about your good day for years to come.

Taurus

Fine-tuning escapes you. Reasonable paths are lost to your feet. Try as you might to stay on course, you're all activity and no results. Where did this manic haste come from? It's completely against your nature. The stars are playing with you -- or maybe the source of the trouble is closer to home. Identify the people that can stir you up and avoid them at all costs. They know too well that, unless you slow down, the only thing you'll make is a mess. Your logic and dignity will win in the end.

Gemini

You're beyond motivated. Instead, you're somewhere between driven and obsessed. It's almost as though your ideas are turning themselves into action. This could be fun at first, but it could also trap you in a cycle that may be hard to escape once it wears you out. Make a list and stick to it. That way, you won't become too scattered. If you're alone, you won't be as tempted to start more than you can finish. However, if others are collaborating or egging you on, you can get away with spreading yourself a lot thinner.

Cancer

You don't always like to plan ahead. However, if you insist on being spontaneous now, you'll end up paying for it almost immediately. Living at the mercy of external forces gets old fast. If you ever spent time as a waiter, you have some experience with the diplomatic art of taking absurd orders. Smiling and agreeing with authority figures make them feel as if they're on top of the world and that's good for you. Subtly put your own spin on the proceedings. Continuations and conclusions are highly favored over beginnings.

Leo

It's a good time to be in your world. You deserve to spend the day playing. Understand, however, that you may not find many playmates. Few people want to compete on your level, even when you try to reassure them that you're only looking for equals. What can you do when your energy level is too high for them to handle? If you end up alone, there's certainly no lack of things to keep you busy. Set goals for yourself. Break your own record. If you're tired of the same old thing, channel this amazing vigor into learning something new.

Virgo

You've seen what natural forces can do to some of your cosmic neighbors. Now it's your turn to face the winds of conflict or the waters of chaos. Whatever comes along, you know that it's going to unsettle your routine. But is that really so bad? You can take an outsider's view of financial or material issues. If somebody else has a problem, you might even be the one to solve it. Step out of the traditional victim's role. Laugh in the face of greed and shrug off the desire for revenge. Above all else, you're highly reasonable.

Libra

You're doing great, so what's their problem? You could cut the tension here with a knife. If others are having a hard time, don't aggravate them with jokes or a superior attitude. Their struggle might become yours if you're not careful. Unresolved issues are just more fuel for the fire that you should be containing or extinguishing. Compromise may be your only logical choice. You don't have to like it, but you'd help yourself a lot if you tried. Teaching your neighbors how to smile is the best gift that you could give them right now.

Scorpio

Push your desire out of the picture before it makes trouble for you. Once passion forces your hand, you lose the element of surprise, to say nothing of your reputation for brilliant subtlety. The stars drive you to do what you want, not what you should be doing. If your gains balance out your losses, consider yourself lucky. In the end, you might arrive at the same place via an unusual route. And now that you're here, the party can really begin. People want to know how your day is going. You have a story or two to tell them.

Sagittarius

Everything you hoped for is happening, except that it's even better than you thought it would be. You came for the drama. Instead, there's so much action that you barely have time to watch the story unfold. By just casually sniffing around to see what's what, you pick up the scent of something irresistible and it leads you along a twisting path of discovery. The rewards are immediate and amazing. Anything that you learn can be used in your favor, not only now, but for years to come. Considering the price of admission, this turned out to be an excellent deal.

Capricorn

Self-discovery happens when you least expect it. You understand why you like what you like, although that might take some of the fun out of it. Your routine may never be the same after you risk going outside its boundaries. Now that your curiosity is piqued, there's no turning back. Making an obvious choice drives you to use it in innovative ways. Haphazard methods aren't for you. You need to be thorough if this will lead you anywhere close to a satisfactory conclusion. Once you explore every nook and cranny, you'll be ready to share what you know.

Aquarius

Your opinion carries weight. For reasons that you can't explain, those around you are listening with fresh ears, even though you're still saying what you've always said. Let them dig deeply into your words and appreciate your insight. After all this time, a dose of respect feels just fine. The strength and authority of your message lets you imagine what absolute power must feel like -- but don't get too carried away. You're not the only one with an opinion. Let somebody else get a few words in without making him or her compete for space. Listen as well as talk.

Pisces

Don't let anyone sell you a bill of goods, because it might turn out to be nothing more than a bushel of red herrings. Think on your feet and fight facts with facts. Avoid fast-talking people who claim to have a sincere interest in your financial health. Even when honorable types encourage you to do the math, write it down on paper. Basic assumptions may be called into question during some future moment of review. Those who depend on you appreciate the care that you're taking. It's good to be vigilant when the laws of the world aren't always apparent.